Wolsey has revealed to us fully his own objects in a letter to Sir Gregory Cassalis, his agent at Rome.  He shared with half Europe in an impression that the emperor’s Italian campaigns were designed to further the Reformation; and of this central delusion he formed the keystone of his conduct.  “First condoling with his Holiness,” he wrote, “on the unhappy position in which, with the college of the most reverend cardinals, he is placed,[128] you shall tell him how, day and night, I am revolving by what means or contrivance I may bring comfort to the church of Christ, and raise the fallen state of our most Holy Lord.  I care not whit it may cost me, whether of expense or trouble; nay, though I have to shed my blood, or give my life for it, assuredly so long as life remains to me for this I will labour.  And how let me mention the great and marvellous effects which have been wrought by my instrumentality on the mind of my most excellent master the king, whom I have persuaded to unite himself with his Holiness in heart and soul.  I urged innumerable reasons to induce him to part him from the emperor, to whom he clung with much tenacity.  The most effective of them all was the constancy with which I assured him of the good-will and affection which were felt for him by his Holiness, and the certainty that his Holiness would furnish proof of his friendship in conceding his said Majesty’s requests, in such form as the church’s treasure and the authority of the Vicar of Christ shall permit, or so far as that authority extends or may extend.  I have undertaken, moreover, for all these things in their utmost latitude, pledging my salvation, my faith, my honour and soul upon them.  I have said that his demands shall be granted amply and fully, without scruple, without room or occasion being left for after-retractation; and the King’s Majesty, in consequence, believing on these my solemn asseverations that the Pope’s Holiness is really and indeed well inclined towards him, accepting what is spoken by me as spoken by the legate of the Apostolic See, and therefore, as in the name of his Holiness, has determined to run the risk which I have pressed upon him; he will spare no labour or expense, he will disregard the wishes of his subjects, and the private interest of his Realm, to attach himself cordially and constantly to the Holy See."[129]

These were the words of a man who loved England well, but who loved Rome better; and Wolsey has received but scanty justice from catholic writers, since he sacrificed himself for the catholic cause.  His scheme was bold and well laid, being weak only in that it was confessedly in contradiction to the instincts and genius of the nation, by which, and by which alone, in the long run, either this or any other country has been successfully governed.  And yet he might well be forgiven if he ventured on an unpopular course in the belief that the event would justify him; and that, in uniting with France to support the pope,